High Boltage Radio Thread 8/13

#1: Kickoffs tend to feature players who aren’t paid very well, and are the most dangerous plays in the game. Anything that reduces the hazard is good.

#2: Kickoffs add a sense of randomness to the game; they’re one way a lesser team can beat a better team. This is good and bad, if you ask me; as a Chargers fan i think it’s good for us, but if I were a Browns backer I might not be so keen.

#3: This is, as we saw on Thursday, not going to stop kickoff returns from happening. It will make them less common, but they won’t be any less exciting when they do happen. In fact, they’ll get longer on average.

#4: I think the kickoff coverage formation rules are rather interesting. I think you’ll see some significant strategic and tactical shifts regarding onside kicks and positioning for kickoffs. If I understand right, all 10 coverage guys have to be touching the 30-yard line. Is there anything else?

When we think on who the rule benefited the most its kind of hard no to think of the chargers as the most. It might even justify keeping the extra kicker if he can consistently kick it 7 yards deep into the end zone.

The kickoff rule might cost the bears at least one win, maybe 2-3 wins from the 2010 total, looking at the o-line yesterday. 9 wins seems optimistic.

Heard the podcast, I am sharing the optimism, my main concern is the mental toughness of the team, being very specific the ability to win close games. As great as Rivers was last year, can’t completely forgive the fact he had 4 drives to win or tie games last year they didn’t produce in, and it also includes when the defense came up short versus the Raiders and Rams when key stops were needed. To reach the goal in ’11 the chargers must close on those key drives this season.